BBQ season is here! But before you give Fido a burger off the grill, please remember that a dog’s stomach can’t handle all of the summer food that we love to eat. Be informed; read our post – Table Scraps For Dogs: BBQ Dos and Don’ts.
On the weekend, there is nothing I love more than barbecuing outside with my family. No matter whether it’s chicken burgers, veggie dogs, or corn on the cob, I love to eat it all. Unfortunately, my adorable furry friends think that they should be able to enjoy everything too.
But, a dog’s stomach can’t handle all of the summer staples that I love to eat. And even foods that aren’t toxic can still cause pancreatitis – a painful condition caused by overeating or swallowing a foreign object. So even though I feel really bad saying “no” to their salivating faces, sometimes I need to for their safety.
Case in point: Last year, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance saw more than 1,300 claims related to pancreatitis last year and more than 5,600 from “foreign body obstruction,” which is “vet speak” for eating something you’re not supposed to eat like socks and rocks. In fact, one hungry pup, Chubbers the basset hound, needed surgery after sneaking a corn cob from the family dinner. The required surgery generated a staggering $5,870 vet bill!
Yikes! And to think that corn on the cob is completely safe for my chickens and we toss it on the lawn when we’re done with it for them to peck at! Rut-ro! I guess we’ll be making sure that we only put the cobs in their secured run from now on!
To help keep your furry family members happy and healthy this holiday weekend, Healthy Paws has compiled a list of BBQ dos and don’ts regarding table scraps for dogs.
Table Scraps For Dogs: BBQ Dos and Don’ts
What’s okay for your dog to eat?
1.) Burgers
Hamburger meat makes a great high-value treat if it’s plain. Burgers that are too greasy or cooked with garlic, onions, spices and seasonings are a no-go: your dog can get sick with vomiting or diarrhea.
2.) Hot Dogs
If the hot dog’s ingredients are strictly high-quality meats, you’re safe. Toss the buns – they are empty calories.
3.) Seafood
Seafood like salmon is usually safe for dogs if it’s cleared of minuscule bones and isn’t cooked in garlic or onions. If it comes in a shell, remove it (clams, oysters, lobsters, etc.).
What can make your dog sick?
1.) Pasta salad, potato salad, potato chips
Avoid these foods. While potatoes are common ingredients in dog food, potato and pasta salads are often made with “no-no’s” like garlic and onions. And, potato chips are coated in salt, which just isn’t good for dogs.
2.) Beer
Dogs just can’t process it.
3.) Desserts and ice cream
Canines can be lactose-intolerant, and ice cream is full of sugar. While naturally occurring sugars aren’t bad, the added sugars in pies and cakes can lead to health problems. Same with sugar-free desserts – most artificial sweeteners may cause diarrhea, and sugar substitute xylitol is poisonous to pups!
Now that you know what’s safe to feed your dogs from the grill and what’s not safe to feed your dogs, go forth and start your barbecue!
Denine
Check out some of our homemade dog biscuit recipes before you go:
- star wars dog treats (sweet potato and bacon)
- banana dog cookie recipe
- butternut squash dog treats
- homemade peanut butter dog biscuit recipe
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